I meant to post this yesterday, but you all know how sleepiness goes with me by now.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter! And in case no one has told you this today, I love you.

Each and every one of you.

*hearts all around*

(-)

Chapter 35

Life and death

"Thank-you again for the food. The buns and komodo sausage were delicious!" Korra grinned, showing her full appreciation for the meal she received while at the same time trying to avoid the topic of Fire Bending. Sure, she had been rather resolute about teaching herself to Bend prior, but now that the possibility existed in which Zuko may know she could Bend… she wanted to evade it for the time being, just to be safe.

Safe from what?

From people knowing I can Fire Bend... and stuff…

You're still adamant about the whole 'Fire Bending in secret' thing, aren't you?

Yes, I am.

She sighed.

At least, for now I am. I don't know how everyone else is going to react. I mean, what would you think if you saw a Water Tribe girl FireBending?

"It's not a problem, Korra." Zuko interrupted her thoughts, almost as if he was answering her question.

She faltered for a moment as they walked side by side.

Was he?

"I would be a bad host if I didn't feed you," he continued, his hands behind his back as the duo made their way through the balcony level of the Royal Palace.

Oh, that's what he was talking about. I hope…

"Where are we heading?"

Zuko stopped outside of the door leading to two staircases.

"We're going to have to climb stairs, aren't we?"

He chuckled and pushed on the handle. A pair of torch-lit steps met them.

Korra let out an internal groan and slouched her shoulders.

"I know you're tired, Korra, so we'll take it slow. I don't want to push you too far today."

The statement gave her mixed feelings; she was both grateful for his consideration and eager to prove him wrong in her own stubborn demeanor. They climbed the stairs together, much to Korra's chagrin. She kept up with him regardless, matching pace by pace, though her body was not happy about the matter. Tenacity was her fuel at this point. She was panting, curled over with her hands on her knees, but she did it, dammit.

Fuck these stairs!

Her thoughts were triumphant as Zuko pushed the final door open. Wind swirled around her and danced with her wolf tails. Druk called to them as they made their way across the roof. The former Fire Lord approached his companion and rubbed the side of his head.

"Good morning, Druk. Have the servants given you breakfast?"

The dragon let out a soft, agreeing sound.

"Good." He turned to Korra, his hands once again behind his back. "Are you ready?"

She hesitated, a panicky palm on the back of her head. "Ready for what, exactly?"

"To learn about Fire Bending. That is why you're here, right?"

She paused again before giving him a nervous nod.

"Good." Zuko walked towards the edge of the roof and beckoned for the Southerner to join him.

Korra peered over the ledge and gulped; while they were only a few floors above her borrowed room, the drop looked much more intimidating from this height.

"Tell me, Korra: where do Fire Benders get their energy?"

She opened her mouth to answer but stopped herself.

Is this a trick question? They get power from the sun, but they Bend the chi in themselves, but what if they are controlling existing fire, and they can use other forms of heat, too…

"Um… from the sun?" She took a shot in the dark.

"That is where they get their power from. Fire Benders can use all sorts of heat sources, though, such as volcanoes and even comets." He paused at that statement, recalling the last comet to circle the earth, that which brought about the ending of the Hundred Year War. "But what about their energy?"

"From themselves?"

"Exactly." He turned to her and smiled. "Fire Bending is unique amongst the other elements in that we use our own chi as a main source of our Bending and can funnel the heat around us through our chi paths to create fire – when we don't generate it directly from our chi. While the other elements do use some synchronization of internal chi and that which is already present in the element itself, and the same concept can be applied to the control of already present fires, it is Fire Bending that relies the most upon the chi within yourself. The manipulation of other elements is more centered around the chi existing in whatever element they are trying to Bend. But Fire Bending, in its most basic form, calls for the generation of itself from the Bender. This is why it is important to find your motivation and your inner sun. It is the source from which all of your chi will flow. Once you find that, it's all a matter of converting that energy and extending it past your limbs –" he held his palm open before her in a horizontal position at chest height "–into fire." A small burst of flames appeared and floated from his hand.

Korra watched the fire in a somewhat awe; she had never been this close to a Fire Bender before.

Well, at least not one that wasn't trying to kill me. Or myself.

She bent over and took a closer look at the flame from different angles. She couldn't decipher why she was so fascinated with his fire, but she went with it. She passed her fingers over and through it in an almost trance.

"Be careful, now." Zuko pulled his arm away but maintained the flame. "Fire Bending, in and of itself, is not something to fear. Fire Bending can be a beautiful form of art, like any of the Bending disciplines. But you have to respect it. If you don't, it will chew you up and spit you out like an angry komodo rhino." He straightened a bit before continuing. "Fire, if not controlled, has the ability to consume everything in its path. It stops for no one and yields to no one. It will rage on and on until you step up to take on the task of managing it."

Korra eyed the fire once more, soaking in his words. She reached out for the flame again.

"Fire Bending is also about patience." He dissolved his fire before she could touch it. "And practice. Fire is alive. It has a heartbeat, just as you do. What is the purpose of the heart, Korra?"

She scratched her head.

What does this have to do with Fire Bending?

"To pump blood?" She shrugged as she responded.

"Yes. It sustains you, keeps you alive. The same is true for any fire. This is one of the reasons why breath control is so vital to mastering the Fire Bending arts." He brought his palms together in a vertical position in front of his face. He lowered his wrists and generated a flame between his hands once they were at stomach-level. He separated his palms in the same motion and swept them out to either side of his body, a fire in each hand. "Just as oxygen gives life to the fire, oxygen gives life to the chi inside of you – that of which you use to Fire Bend. Poor breath control will not only result in poor use of your chi, but it will extend into your Bending."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The flames doubled in size upon his exhale. They simmered to their original height when he drew more air through his nose. Each respiration brought about larger and larger flames until they towered over the pair.

"This is one of the reasons why many basic forms center around simple punches and kicks, Korra. It's not just to establish body control, but to allow the Bender to bring their breath into play. Each move should bring about another release of air. As you shift into the next, you inhale to restore your lungs. By doing so, you're controlling the flame and directing your chi in the same motion."

Zuko brought his hands back together, the collision of his palms silencing the flame. In another breath, he took a step forward with his left leg and sent a punch out with his right arm, his fist at shoulder height. A large stream of fire shot out of him when the motion was complete, a small exhale escaping his nostrils. He pulled that hand back and rotated his hips so that his legs were opened towards Korra, knees somewhat bent. His right hand returned to a curled position by his head, elbow pointed outwards but tricep parallel to the ground. His left flew to his side in line with the roof, his fingers pointing towards the imaginary target to his nine. Another burst of flames flew from his fingertips as he respired with the action. He moved his right arm and leg forward at the same time while pulling his left hand back. His leg bent upwards with his hand until his ankle was at eye level. Two blazes emerged from each, soaring strong into the sky.

Korra observed his progression in awe.

His Bending is so strong and he's hardly doing anything.

"It's all in the breath, Korra." Zuko snapped her out of her admiring daze as he returned to a simple standing position. "Let's run through some of the basic techniques and kata, shall we?" He stretched and widened his stance. "It'll be useful for all those Pro-Benders you'll be managing."

A sheepish smile crawled across her face for just a moment. She wiped it away, hopefully before he could notice. She stood beside him and mimicked his pose, her exhaustion forgotten in her hidden excitement.

"This is one of the simple techniques for beginning Benders. It helps build leg strength for your stances, and it's meant to be somewhat meditative. You should focus on feeling the sun and control of your breathing. Usually, Masters have their students do this for days before they even start trying to control fire."

They remained in that position for quite some time while Korra debated; her focus was split between the lesson and her self-determined potential, brought about from the reading and training she had put herself through the night before.

After a moment, she spoke up. "If I'm going to be using this for Pro-Bending, wouldn't the Benders already know how to do this?"

He chuckled. "I would certainly hope so. But you're right: they should know how to do this." He shifted his weight and slid into a starting position. "Still, it's important to know and master the basics before moving onto advanced techniques. You shouldn't rush it, nor should you forget about it. Your basic techniques – breathing, energy and chi control, stances, footing – they are your greatest weapons. Trust me; I learned the hard way, from my Uncle." Zuko paused, reflecting on his deceased family member. "All advanced sequences spawn from these," he continued with a shake of his head as he rotated his body into the same punching stance he had during his Bending demonstration, though he did not release fire from his fist.

Korra copied him without question, moving on her own free will. She matched his motion in a flawless transferal; it had been one she practiced earlier before the sun had risen.

"Good, Korra. Good. These will come in handy no matter what situation you might get into."

They continued and repeated this sequence before moving onto the next. The sun was just past its midpoint when they went through most of the basic Fire Bending katas multiple times over. Her determination to continue on and make each move perfect lessened the affect her fatigue had on her. To be honest, she didn't have to put much effort into her mimicry; it felt right and natural to her – to be moving in such a way. She couldn't tell if it was from her studying throughout the night, or if it was something else, but she went with it regardless. It fueled her fortitude. Still, though, Korra was sweating more than she thought she would from the exertion. This didn't go unnoticed by the former Fire Lord.

It must be the exhaustion.

Still, she's had little, if any, error in the katas.

Well, they are just basic forms.

But this is the first time she's done those basic forms.

Zuko paused for a moment, considering his mental statement. "There are a few advanced techniques I would like to show you, Korra." He approached the panting Water Tribe girl with a stern face. "Most of these can be found in the books and scrolls I gave you." He beckoned her into a starting position.

Korra took a deep breath and pushed herself upright beside the Fire Bending Master. She copied each of his movements mere seconds after he performed them. She wasn't off by an inch.

"Remember when you're doing this that it's about the direction and extension of your chi and energy from your core and outwards into whatever position you're in." They continued the complex sequence as he spoke. "It's not just about brute strength and punching the air and keeping the form precise. You're releasing your breath and your chi with each strike, letting it flow through and out of you with each motion and windup to hit your enemies where it hurts."

She nodded, her body in complete synch with his. They repeated the current drill and ran through several others before Zuko stopped again.

"While these kata are quite common amongst more advanced Benders, there's one technique in particular that many of them don't know. You won't be able to find it in those books, either, but it is probably one of the most important skills for you to know, whether you go on to manage a Pro-Bending team or not."

Korra raised her eyebrow in confusion and straightened. "How so?"

"Because it can make the difference between life and death."

She gulped at both his words and the look in his eyes. With a deep breath and an internal wave of determination, she stepped forward. "Teach me."

Zuko judged her, seeing much of his stubborn teenage self in the young Water Tribe girl.

I can't possibly deny it, though. It could save her life. And given her performance with the other kata, she is more than ready to learn this one.

"Come, Korra." He waved her on as he walked towards a small stone bench on the roof. He retrieved two water flasks from underneath and handed her one of them.

She nodded in appreciation and guzzled half of its contents in a few gulps, deciding not to question how or when these even got up here. After the container was empty, she took a seat beside Zuko on the bench, an odd sense of nostalgia washing over her. She blinked the confusing feeling away and stared out over the Fire Nation. "So what is this super fancy powerful move that you're going to show me?"

"It's not that it's fancy or powerful, Korra. It might actually seem familiar to you."

"How?"

He turned to her and smiled. "Because it is derived from Water Bending itself." He shifted and stared at the scenery from the top of the Royal Palace. The lands of the Fire Nation stretched out before them – its people small and hidden from the height – until it kissed the Bay behind the Harbor Gates and made its way out to the Mo Ce Sea. The sun was three-fourths of the way through its cycle as it made its descent in the sky. "The Nations aren't all that separate, you know. We might only be able to see the Fire Nation from where we are, but the world is filled with people of every Nation. Just as they aren't limited to their location, the elements aren't limited to themselves: they interact just as much as we do."

Korra watched him for a moment before gazing back out over the horizon.

"Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will. They have the energy and drive to achieve what they want, whatever that may be. Earth is element of substance. The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring, just like the earth itself. Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads detach themselves from worldly concerns, just as the wind comes and goes without a care for the earth below. Through this, they find peace and freedom. Water – your native element – is the element of change."

She twisted her head and stared at him, an indecipherable interest swarming over her.

"The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things." Zuko met her blue eyes. "Just like water, they can change direction, flow, and even form in order to exist wherever it is that they are. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything."

Korra averted her gaze to her hands in her lap to hide the ache in her heart. "Why are you telling me these things?"

"Because it is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If you take it from only one place, it becomes rigid. Understanding the other elements, as well as other people and the other Nations, will help you become wholesome and strong." Zuko pushed himself from his spot on the bench and walked to the center of the roof.

She hesitated for a moment, still absorbed in her thoughts. After another pause, she rose from her seat and followed him.

"It was this mentality that inspired my Uncle to develop this technique," he continued once Korra was within earshot. He put both of his hands next to each other. All of his fingers were down except for the first two on each hand, which were pointed, almost like a rod. He slid his outside hand down his other arm – the fingers drawing a line across the limb – until he hit the shoulder. From there, he dropped his hand to stomach level and glided his fingers to the other side of his abdomen. With a final movement, he brought his elbow back and put his hand in line with his opposing shoulder. He bent his wrist to the side and followed the motion until his arm straightened and his fingers were pointed in the complete opposite direction from which he started the sequence.

Korra watched him move with curious eyes. "It looks like you're trying to change the flow of whatever is attacking you."

Zuko smiled. "Exactly. Water Benders deal with the flow of energy and allow their defense to become their offense. They turn their opponent's energy against them. But I'm sure you know that already." He straightened and took a step closer. "But this isn't just any ordinary technique. This is used to redirect the most powerful Fire Bending attack of all: lightning."

"Woah." She paused for a moment. A strong chill crawled down her back at the thought of lightning rushing towards her. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. "I'm ready. I want to learn."

"Good. This move looks simple, but the movements must be very precise." He put his hands together in the same fashion as before and performed the technique as he spoke. "If you let the energy flow within your body, the lightning will follow. Lightning itself is just a purer form of energy than fire. It is horribly deadly, though. You must create a pathway from your fingertips, up your arm to your shoulder, then down into your stomach." He halted his demonstration for a moment, his hand lingering around his abdomen. "The stomach detour is critical. It is the source of all chi in your body and can handle the amount of energy you're absorbing, as long as you don't keep it there for long. You must not let the lightning pass through your heart, or else the damage could be deadly." Zuko held a grave look in his eyes as he remembered the horrifying moment when Azula struck him with lightning during their Agni Kai at the end of the Hundred Year War. He could almost feel his abdomen scar throb upon the thought. He shook it off and finished the motion. "From your stomach, you move your hand up again and direct the lightning out of the other arm."

Korra nodded and mirrored the technique without a flaw.

"Again. It's important that you get this down to memory. Lightning comes quick, and if you're not ready, you won't have time to try and redirect it. It can't be a thought; it has to just be a direct response. An instinct."

A look of determination spread across her face. They practiced the redirection procedure until the sun almost touched the horizon. The sky shifted its color a shade with each completed reiteration.

"I think that's enough for today. It's getting late, and we've trained right through lunch." Zuko put a hand on her shoulder just as both of their stomachs growled.

Korra chuckled. "I guess you're right about that." She smiled and bowed to the former Fire Lord in the Fire Nation style. "Thank-you, for teaching me."

He repeated the gesture. "Of course. Now you can go teach all of your Pro-Bending friends as well."

A surge of guilt seeped inside of her. She dropped her sight and stared at her feet. "Yeah, about that…"

Korra, what are you doing?!

I'm telling him the truth.

Are you crazy?

Maybe I am. Or maybe I'm just really tired. I don't think I know the difference anymore. But he should know.

He doesn't need to.

He took me in and taught me about Fire Bending without question, without even knowing me.

Korra, think about this. Don't be brash.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to continue, a distant roar interrupted them.

What the hell?

Korra spun around to its source just as Zuko did, the thought between the two shared.

"Woah!"

She sprinted to the edge of the roof to get a closer look, her enervation forgotten. Her eyes glistened as she watched the shadow of what could only be a flying bison pass through the sky.

Wait, what is a bison doing all the way out here in the Fire Nation?

It was then that she realized the great beast wasn't just aimless in its flight. It sped towards the Royal Palace, and it was soaring towards her.

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